ISLAMABAD: The Customs Collectorate has detected multiple cases of misuse of PCT heading 9914 (exemption by hospitals and medical institutes) by commercial importers. The collectorate is also strengthening controls of bonded warehouses, has conducted transparent public auctions and generated more then Rs 100 million. The collectorate also eliminated the trend of mobile phone smuggling through Islamabad airport and detected various seizure cases of heroin smuggling at International Mail Office (IMO).
This was stated by Collector Arslan Subuguteen in an exclusive interview with Customs Today. He said that the MCC distributed a huge amount among exporters as duty drawback and cleared all of pending refunds cases.
Collector Arsalan said that Collectorate exceeded collection of customs duty (CD) target with Rs.281 millions up to 19th of November 2016-17 against the assigned target of Rs.276 million.
The collector said that of MCC showed outstanding performance during first three weeks of November FY16-17, adding that during the above said period customs Collectorate collected Rs.734.8 millions against assigned target amounting to Rs.701.7 millions.
He said that MCC surpasses revenue collection target, while on the other hand it has paid Rs.4.34 millions of refunds and rebates till 19th November, adding that he is optimistic that MCC will not only achieve its assigned target of November however it will exceed its overall assigned target for current month.
He said that Dry Port Islamabad was assigned customs duty collection target for month of November 2016-17 amounting to Rs.261 million which will definitely achieved by the end of month. He said that AFU assigned revenue collection target under the head of CD for month of November amounting Rs.200 million and it will also achieve the assigned target.
In answer to another question he said that MCC Islamabad collected Rs.33.01 million surplus revenue under the head of customs duty during the month of October FY2016-17.
Collector Dr. Arslan Subugteen said during the month of October 2015-16 MCC collected Rs.378.57 million under the head of customs duty while it collected Rs 411.57 million during previous FY 2015-16.
He said that Collectorate has assigned revenue collection target of CD for all stations of MCC i.e. Islamabad Dry Port (IDP), Air Freight Unit (AFU), car section, IMO for current financial year amounting Rs.436 million.
He adding that MCC formulate the SOP with motorway police for assistance to ASO during conducting raids against smugglers on motorway adding that car cell and ASO Islamabad have impounded above 100 non duty paid and offending vehicles during first four and half months of financial year 2016-17. He said that figures shows that ASO staff showed outstanding performance during the above said period adding that during first four and half month the ASO seized smuggled goods amounting Rs.11.42 million.
Dr. Arslan said that anti smuggling activity is going very effetely, ASO is giving very tough time to smugglers and drugs traffickers, now it is not easy for tax evaders and smugglers to carrying smuggled items to the region.
He said that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) directed Customs Collectorates to adopt zero tolerance policy towards smugglers. He said that Customs collectorates are using all available resources to curb smuggling attempts in the region and due to strict measures marginable decrease is being witnessed in smuggling attempts.
